COVID-19 Response

Special Education Services Statement for Distance Remote Learning during COVID 19

Dear Parents and Families of Students with Individual Education Programs (IEPs):

During this time of school closures due to COVID-19, there are some important things to remember. Spartanburg School District 6 recognizes the safety of all students, families, school personnel and community members are of the utmost importance. We are working to ensure student and staff safety during this unprecedented school closure and want to provide you with guidance relating to students with disabilities and their services. Our goal is for families and schools to collaborate and communicate regarding services for students with disabilities in these very challenging times. Please feel free to contact your child’s special education teacher, general education teacher, or school administrator if you have questions.

The United States Department of Education and the South Carolina Department of Education have expressed an understanding that during this national emergency, schools will not be able to provide all services in the same manner or to the same extent they are typically provided. During this current emergency school closure, it is unsafe for our district to provide face to face instruction and services, and while some instruction may be provided in an alternative manner, it may be unfeasible for some services to occur in an alternative manner at this time due to other requirements, regulations, or technology concerns. However, many disability-related accommodations, modifications, and services may be effectively provided online or through some other alternative means. These may include, for instance, extensions of time for assignments, videos with accurate captioning or embedded sign language interpreting, accessible reading materials, in some cases services through video conferencing, or instructional packets or exercises focusing on areas identified in a student’s IEP.

We understand that you may have questions during this time, and we are here to assist you.

What will happen to my child’s services when a school is closed but educational services continue to be provided through non-traditional means such as Distance Remote Learning?

Spartanburg District 6 is working to ensure that all students receive services to the most appropriate and reasonable extent possible. We are using a variety of methods to provide services, including virtual meetings, communication via phone, instructional packets for students, assignments in Google Classroom, and teletherapy. Although these services may not look the same, they are being implemented to the best of the district’s ability during this national emergency and the uncertainties associated with it.

2. This is not a change in placement for your child. This is a temporary adjustment in service delivery for all students due to the current national emergency.

Once schools reopen, IEP teams may review how the closure impacted the delivery of special education and related services to students with IEPs. IEP teams will work together to review IEPs, if appropriate, and determine student needs based on data and input from team members.

4. Should your child require an IEP meeting, such as an annual review or eligibility determination, or should you request an IEP meeting during the school closure, your child’s teacher will work to meet as soon as school is back in session on our campuses or through alternate means, such as video or audio conference calls.

Additional guidance may be found in the following:

We hope that you and your family are staying safe during these unprecedented times and we are looking forward to returning to our school campuses as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.